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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-09-2015 02:54 AM

AGUILAR3

The tank footprint is smaller than the base it sits on so it's actually sitting on the strips of plywood running across the top. The 1/2" plywood are resting on the outer frame, legs and 2 inner cross brace.

03-09-2015 02:16 AM

Kathyy

The corners of the tank should be directly supported by the legs. Your stand has the frames keeping the legs vertical which is fine but I cannot quite tell if the corners of the tank are directly over the legs. If the corners of the tank are on the deck and not over the legs then changing the legs so they have those extra pieces isn't going to help at all.

My first stand was constructed like that and the tank stayed up for 12 years just fine. I think I used lag bolts rather than screws though. After learning that that was all wrong I worried a lot though!

03-08-2015 10:19 PM

AGUILAR3

My apologies to Big B for not understanding his concerns. My stand is in fact missing a few very important braces. The fuchsia/purple supports pictured in the sketch below.

03-08-2015 07:59 PM

AGUILAR3

Like the picture above, the legs are not on top or under the square frames.

btw, you want to talk about scary? The 5' 110g tank I picked up came with a 1.2" thick particle board stand held together by nails and wood glue. They guy said he's had it set up for over 15yrs

03-08-2015 04:56 PM

The Big Buddha

Myself, I wouldnt trust drywall screws. It just looks like in your picture the screws are what is holding the load from the top frame to the legs.

03-08-2015 04:46 PM

AGUILAR3

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Big Buddha

Aguilar, is it the screws that are bearing all the load on your stand?

No. My legs are resting on the floor and on the inside of the upper and lower frames like the image below.

03-08-2015 04:17 PM

Bob Madoran

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhoy

Just an FYI for anyone reading through this thread. Per the manufacture's website (Simpson Strong Ties) the RTC42 was discontinued in 2014 and very hard to find available on the internet.

From the manufactures web site:

RTC24 and RTC24Z Discontinued in 2014
The RTC24 and RTC24Z models are being discontinued and will have limited availability. Simpson Strong-Tie recommends substituting the new RTC2Z Rigid TieŽ Connector for these items.

As far as I can tell, the RTC42 which uses a 4x4 post has not been discontinued. The RTC24 and RTC24Z which use a 2x4 post have been a updated to a new version and the old ones are no long being made.

03-07-2015 11:30 PM

The Big Buddha

Aguilar, is it the screws that are bearing all the load on your stand?

03-07-2015 01:32 PM

BS87

Another FYI for this thread, I build one of these (very similar to the original design) about 3 years ago. It's held a 40B every since, rock solid. I have no qualms about the stand holding up.

03-05-2015 01:26 AM

AGUILAR3

The Home Depot web site says that all of my Local stores have them in stock. Apperently I have 16 HD stores within a 12 mile radius and each store has anywhere between 10-47 in stock. "Simpson Strong-Tie 18-Gauge 2X Rigid Tie Connector Model # RTC42".

03-04-2015 04:11 PM

lhoy

Just an FYI for anyone reading through this thread. Per the manufacture's website (Simpson Strong Ties) the RTC42 was discontinued in 2014 and very hard to find available on the internet.

01-02-2015 04:02 PM

TankFreak420

That looks nice. Great job.

01-02-2015 01:52 PM

jamblor

Great stands, the stain really gives it a different look from just bare wood.

12-31-2014 08:16 PM

AGUILAR3

Built myself a temporary stand with nothing more than a few pallets from work, a box of drywall screws, an 8oz jar of stain and an old 70's hand saw. It's far from perfect but it works. Now that it's finished, it may not be so temporary anymore.

11-08-2014 02:42 PM

TankFreak420

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raymond S.

I do not understand why people don't realize that a rimless tank is a whole different tank from a tank/w a frame. The rimless tank needs a 100% solid supporting surface under the entire bottom of it. Just a small amount of sag and you break the bottom glass.
IMO 1/2" plywood is much too flexible for this.

Rimless tanks are built just the same as tanks with rims. I mean come on the rim is the last step. That and most rimless tanks I have see where tanks that just had there rims removed. Are you saying that a tank with a rim is fine to be supported by the edges, but if you remove that rim it somehow can't be supported by the edges? Only tanks that need full support under them are acrylic tanks, Joey has said it many times in his diy videos.

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